Tioman, the area around Batu Mumbang

Tioman · Malaysia · Pinnacle · Wall

Batu Mumbang

Twin rock islets over boulder coral, overhangs and small walls

Area photo: TMbux · CC BY-SA 3.0

Two rocky islands break the surface off the north-east point of Juara Bay, three minutes out by boat, and their sides descend to the sandy bottom of the bay at 18 metres. Underwater the site is large boulder corals, rocky coral scape, overhangs and small walls, with a mild current turning up on some days.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Batu Mumbang: typical dive to 18 m (to 60 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit18 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

2.7941° N, 104.2120° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

Three minutes off the north-east point of Juara Bay, two rocky islands break the surface, and the dive is a circuit of what they do underwater: their sides descend to the sandy bottom of the bay at eighteen metres, and the rock between the surface and the sand is large boulder corals, rocky coral scape, overhangs and small walls.

Because the deepest point is eighteen metres, the usual plan is to drop to the sand at the base, work round the rock in one direction with the walls on your shoulder, then spiral up on to the shallower boulders for the end of the dive. A mild current turns up on some days and is worth checking from the surface, since it decides which side of the islands you start on.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Batu Mumbang
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonFairGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodFairOff-seasonOff-season

Season follows Tioman: Northeast monsoon brings rough seas and closed resorts November-January; calmest conditions and best visibility run May-September.

Sources

  1. Batu Mumbang - Scubago — Scubago

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Easy shallow reef with blacktip sharks and green turtles

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Sand shallows, coral garden and a sheer wall to 18 metres

5–8 m · max 18 mbeginner

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